The Situation of Children from Annulled Marriages in Peasant Communities of Late Medieval Poland – Legal Regulations vs. Reality

This article explores the complex situation of peasant children born into families that were initially considered legitimate by both the Church and society, until marital impediments were proven in court. The annulment of a marriage, and consequently the dissolution of the family, resulted in a complete change in their previously stable living situation. A cautious attempt has been made to estimate the number of families and children who may have been affected by this issue. Subsequently, the legal consequences of marriage annulment for the children are examined, with particular attention given to their legitimacy and the issue of their custody. The diverse practices of ecclesiastical courts are analyzed, alongside the exploration of the motivations guiding the judges in issuing their decisions. Attention has also been drawn to the fact that the issue under discussion generated certain social repercussions and represented an atypical situation within the family structures of the period.